Books Quote by Oscar Wilde
“Miss Prism: Do not speak slightingly of the three-volume novel, Cecily. I wrote one myself in earlier days. Cecily: Did you really, Miss Prism? How wonderfully clever you are! I hope it did not end happily? I don't like novels that end happily. They depress me so much. Miss Prism: The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895
Fiction should balance happy and sad outcomes to reflect life's complexity.
In simple terms: Stories need both joy and sorrow.
Key Takeaway
Embrace mixed endings.
Themes
literature
balance
emotion
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing critique
- personal preference
- reading habits
Key Concepts
narrative structure
human experience
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you prefer stories that resolve positively?
- How do mixed endings affect your mood?
A Different Perspective
Some readers may find sad endings unsatisfying.